Police say suspect cleaned car after Auburn Mall slaying

Tuesday

Mar 4, 2014 at 7:19 PM

By Scott J. Croteau TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

WORCESTER — State police detectives investigating the killing of a woman found dead in the Auburn Mall parking lot found Lysol wipes in the suspect's car and believe he tried to clean the car after the slaying, according to search warrant affidavits.

Vu Van Ngo, 27, of 201 Dana Ave. is being held without bail after being charged with the Feb. 18 fatal shooting of 46-year-old Nhung Nguyen. He was also charged in Central District Court with misleading a police investigation.

While investigating the killing, state police located Mr. Ngo's white 1997 Acura Integra and had it towed to the Auburn Police Department. Investigators did not enter the vehicle, but from outside detectives saw several packs of cleansing wipes in the car, along with a white folded trash bag with what appeared to be blood on it. The detectives said a dried red liquid was also on the back seat and on a floor mat, according to the search warrant affidavits filed in Central District Court.

On Feb. 19, a search warrant was obtained for the vehicle. A civilian chemist detected blood in the vehicle.

"In addition, there were indications that Ngo had attempted to clean the vehicle including the front passenger seat," Trooper Robert D. Parr wrote in the affidavits. "The front passenger seat was also wet to the touch."

The chemist could not identify the cleaning fluid.

Detectives learned Mr. Ngo had been trying to get a weapon, according to the court documents. The victim's nephew, who is also a friend of Mr. Ngo, told investigators Mr. Ngo sent him a Facebook message on Feb. 5. Mr. Ngo allegedly asked where he could obtain a "piece." The term is commonly used to describe a firearm.

While there is no mention of a motive contained in the search warrant affidavits, investigators discuss some items reportedly stolen from Ms. Nguyen's home.

During their investigation, Ms. Nguyen's daughter told investigators their home at 29 Freeland St. had been broken into on Feb. 14. Entry had not been forced, but Ms. Nguyen had lost her keys before the incident. Jewelry, cash and an iPad Air were stolen.

State police said Mr. Ngo was not at work the day of the break-in. A woman also told police Mr. Ngo had text-messaged her pictures of necklaces and an iPad Air. Investigators did not say if these matched items stolen from Ms. Nguyen's home.

Auburn police were called around 4 p.m. Feb. 18 by a man reporting he had found an unconscious female facedown in a pool of blood in the Auburn Mall parking structure on Southbridge Street. Ms. Nguyen was partially under a vehicle parked on the ground level in the mall's east parking deck.

A .22-caliber shell casing was found near Ms. Nguyen's body.

She was rushed by ambulance to UMass Memorial Medical Center — University Campus, where she was pronounced dead.

Investigators spoke to a man who was snowblowing the mall's sidewalk. The man had seen a small white two-door car speed out of the parking lot, running stop signs. The car came from the same area where Ms. Nguyen's body was found, search warrant affidavits said.

Police were told by Ms. Nguyen's daughter that Mr. Ngo drove Ms. Nguyen to and from her job each day at the Worcester Envelope Co. in Auburn. State and Auburn police investigators said the company is a short distance from the mall. Ms. Nguyen lived in Worcester.

Authorities said Mr. Ngo told investigators he drove Ms. Nguyen to work without making any stops, but then admitted to stopping in the Auburn Mall parking lot.

During a search of his home, detectives found a .22-caliber firearm and ammunition.

Not-guilty pleas were entered in Mr. Ngo's case. He is to return to court later this month.